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If you’ve watched a lot of basketball, you’ll understand immediately what Pete means when he says Kevin Huerter “shoots an easy ball!” It’s really the perfect description that captures how sweet Kevin Huerter’s shooting stoke is. He is the closest thing to Klay Thompson I’ve seen coming out of college. He already is the college version of Steph Curry taking 30′ threes with ease. There’s that word again. EASY. Easiest shot I ever saw? The great Jerry West’s jumper.

Bottom line, that’s the kind of shooters the Lakers are going to need to beat the Warriors and Rockets. It’s why I think they need to do whatever they can to make sure they draft this guy, even if that means taking on salary from the Nuggets for their #14 pick swap. Or maybe, the Nuggets would take Ivica Zubac in trade for Faried and the pick straight up. That would give us two first round picks. How about a draft outcome of Kevin Huerter and Mitchell Robinson?

What I love about Huerter is that his overall game is very similar to Thompson. While an elite shooter with ice in his veins, Kevin is not a gunner. He prefers like Klay to consider himself an all-around player. He can make the extra pass, grab a rebound, dive for a lose ball, or hit the game winning shot. He’s a team first player and solid smart defender. Just like Klay Thompson.

Dynasties are built piece by piece, player by player. I think Huerter could be one of those pieces that the Lakers might go hard after. The fly in the ointment is obviously keeping the cap space for two superstars. I’m guessing right now that the Lakers have a pretty good idea whether or not LeBron is interesting in coming to the Lakers. I also think the Lakers have learned in the past not to let the situation or indecision paralyze them in free agency. They can’t sit around and risk losing assets like Randle or Thomas waiting for a LeBron free agency tour. LeBron is not a good fit for the Lakers. Hopefully, the Lakers come to the same conclusion.

Faried makes $12 mil…how does Zubac’s tiny deal come close to matching that? I’m all for drafting dead-eye shooters but I’m not seeing how this trade notion meets the requirements. I also love Kenneth’s game and have wanted him in the P&G for awhile. So here’s me hoping this works and maybe you forgot to toss in a player?

Let me get this straight…your plan here on this thread is to simply accept that there will be $31.1 million dollars for next season, bearing in mind that we’d still have Deng’s dead weight deal, sitting on the bench? This with no center signed in free agency and so I assume you’re also going with the “We got this guy in the G-League, totally awesome player. Pinky swear!” line.

You think that’s the pitch that lands Paul George? We’ll get to splurge on KCP, again. That’s also not a playoff contending roster. This is the ultimate kick the can down the road to 2021 plan. All for the #14 pick in the NBA Draft?

Pass. If this is how the team looks next season Magic and Rob should be fired toot suite. The idea that we’ll simply “unload” either contract the following summer is absurd, especially if neither player plays. You’re talking about how IT, who we saw can still score and make plays with an injury last season, is going to sign a prove me deal this summer, yet you also believe some GM will trade away a bunch of expiring deals (or more laughable players who are actually good)?

I just don’t see that happening. Nor do I see how this is anything but treading water. Please, please give me 3 seasons of LeBron over this. Or 3 seasons of Boogie and George, but this scenario would represent a basic failure in every department.

LOL. Yes, there’s obviously a passing the time and thinking out of the box and boredom going on here but you’re misinterpreting what I’m saying.

1. To start with, all of this is totally dependent on one of Robinson or Huerter being a player the Lakers think is going to be a superstar or absolutely critical piece to a championship team. Chances are that’s not the case since were talking about a 20 and 19-year old kid. Having said that, it’s very unusual to have the Lakers rumored as having possibly made promises to both kids. Until you look at the videos coming in from their workouts and how rapidly both are rising in the mock drafts.

2. None of this happens unless the Lakers decide to basically jettison their two superstar free agent plan, either because they have word LeBron is not going to come or they realize that the smart move would be to continue to accumulate assets like the Warriors and Celtics did in building their teama and decide that adding a potential top-5 center like Robinson or top-5 sharp shooter like Huerter would be the next logical step. Both player are perfect fits who would strengthen and diversify the existing young core without hindering any other player’s development.

So none of this works unless the Lakers fall in love with one of these guys like they did with Kobe and commit to landing them. I think it’s a long shot and were probably only going to get one of them if we luck out and they fall to us at #25 but also think the logic behind such a move is the type of bold moves that Magic and Rob and the Lakers need to make.

Obviously, the Lakers have a lot of options for the cap space they can create. What I am proposing is that instead of spending $35M on LeBron James, we spend that amount on Julius Randle, Isaiah Thomas, and taking on Kenneth Faried’s 2-year contract for the #14 pick in the draft to pick Kevin Huerter.

That’s very likely, mongo and, of course, still acceptable, but there’s a chance they might not want to trade back in the first because that would still cost them cap space unless they store the pick overseas.

Nuggets might be willing to take our #47 (which was theirs originally) plus cash (we have $3M). Main reason for them making the trade is getting out of Faried’s contract so they can extend Jokic and not go into luxury tax.

@mud: Making a move like trading for the #14 pick to take Huerter or Robinson would be a logical move if the team were focuses on signing PG and bringing everybody else back. Unless you really want Brook Lopez rather than a young stud like Mitchell Robinson.

i remember when the blogs all wanted Jahlil Okafor, and Kristaps Porzingis brought boos from the crowd. NONE of the draft candidates in this draft are sure bets, but there are some guys who look pretty good.

Sometimes, one little contract like that makes a difference. There are many scenarios with Lakers that require dumping Zubac’s salary for that amount. But generally, I agree with you.

What I find surprising is that the Nuggets would trade #14. I mean look at what they got at #13 last year. I would think they would value the pick more but luxury taxes are just a huge no-no for small market teams.

It’s funny when we talk about market size, luxury tax, & revenue streams. Lakers are the 2nd biggest market with a huge local tv deal and one of the most valuable franchises in sports but they’ve always been reluctant to enter the luxury tax. Kinda makes me wonder what’s gonna happen in a few years when it’s time to pay all the youngins.

yeah, there’s money involved which makes it business, but more to the point, it’s a club for rich people. the Lakers are unusual in that the team’s revenue is vital to the owner’s fortune. for most of them, the real money comes from elsewhere. nobody buys a team to make a living. it’s called a ball club for a reason.

Or a mobile modern stud of a center who can protect the rim and spread the floor.

The major point I am trying to make with this example is we still have too many major holes to fill and questions to answer at this point to be looking to being in two superstars. Keep building and developing for another year. Add PG. Keep Randle and Thomas if it makes sense. Let Lonzo, BI, and KK get experience. We’ll be in a stronger position as a young playoff team next year and the free agent class could be better.

That is the big question. I just checked all of the mock drafts listed on NBA.com and here is a summary of the results of the 14 mock drafts I reviewed. Bottom line, Lakers probably have less than a 50% chance that either would make it to #25.

First, Mitchell Robinson:

1. 6 of the 14 had the Lakers taking Robinson
2. 5 of the 14 had teams in front of Lakers: #15, #17, #19, #20, #24
3. 3 of the 14 had teams after Lakers: #27, #27, #33

Then, Kevin Huerter:

1. 0 of 14 had the Lakers taking Huerter
2. 7 of 14 did not have Huerter listed on their draft
3. 4 of the 14 had Huerter listed before Lakers: #18, #19, #20, #24
4. 3 of the 14 had Huerter after Lakers: #28, #29, #42

The answer to the big question obviously depends on the Lakers being completely sold on the player for whom they would give up the two superstar free agency dream.

First of all, making the trade would mean the Lakers believe Huerter or Robinson is a potentially better player than Kuzma, whom they would NOT have taken on $25 million in bad contracts to draft. As to which player would more likely fit that definition, I am guessing it would probably be Mitchell Robinson because finding a center for the future is probably more important than finding the team’s super shooter, although I really love Kevin Huerter for the Lakers.

Influencing my decision is also the fact that we already have a pretty d**n good shooting guard in Josh Hart and PG could easily play that position since we need BI to play the 3. The 5, on the other hand, desperately needs a rim protector to anchor the defense and a stretch 5 to complement Julius Randle.

Answer would probably be Mitchell Robinson but I would be thrilled if we grabbed either one.

Kuzma started to make headlines at the combine, which is when I first heard about him. He was red hot from everywhere and the Lakers liked him so much that his agent decided to shut him down right there and Lakers were lucky he was still available. But from that first combine showing, word was Lakers were likely to take him. So he was a lot like Huerter and Robinson in this draft but just not as much attention.

It is ironic that of the three players whom I have heard received promises, two of them are linked to the Lakers, which pretty much says one of them at least is a false rumor. And since neither player has shut down private workouts, the promises just set the players’ floor and could encourage other teams to consider drafting him.

Finally, while I think drafting Robinson would be better for Lakers, I think Huerter is likely to go earlier because shooting is so important and centers continue to be trivialized by most teams, although that is starting to change with the first five picks of this draft. I see Robinson as just as good as any big man in the draft because he can impact both sides of the ball.

Thanks, Mongo, you’re right. In checking their salary cap, note that they need to make a deal to extend Jokic this summer since this year would be the last on his contract. $1.6M salary. Man, what a bargain for Nikola. This makes getting the #14 pick even more appealing since we would be getting an expiring contract. LOL. Now is when you almost wish the free agency was before the draft. Hopefully, Magic and Rob have been working the back channels and have some idea of what LeBron is likely to do. D**n, should have been rooting for the Cavs and not the Warriors.

The Nuggets’ other concern is Chandler and Arthur likely opting in and adding $20M to their current salary cap situation. So they need to move Faried this summer. Lakers should seriously consider making a move. Robinson is the kind of player you tank an entire season to get. LOL. Trust the process.

This makes getting the #14 pick even more appealing since we would be getting an expiring contract. LOL. Now is when you almost wish the free agency was before the draft. Hopefully, Magic and Rob have been working the back channels and have some idea of what LeBron is likely to do. D**n, should have been rooting for the Cavs and not the Warriors.